Kenya is set to welcome a team of South Korean researchers to study the challenges facing young people in the country.
The State Department for Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy has confirmed this.
The research, which comes as youth protests and online activism rise, will be done by scholars from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), one of South Korea’s top universities.
The researchers aim to understand the social, psychological, economic, and political issues affecting Kenyan youth during this period of growing activism.
The study will be led by Professor Jeon Only, Director of the Africa Human Resource Development Centre, and Professor Bae Yuh Jin, Director of the Centre for African Culture and History. Both are based at HUFS’s Institute of African Studies.
In a joint statement, the professors said young people face serious struggles globally. They emphasized the need to understand this generation to help governments develop better support systems and policies.
HUFS is one of four South Korean institutions that have applied for government research grants to study youth development in Africa.
Why Study Kenyan Gen Z?
This initiative comes as Kenyan youth, especially Gen Z, lead calls for change. Many use social media to raise awareness and organize protests against poor governance, economic hardship, and lack of opportunity.
Notable protests include the June 25, 2025 demonstrations, when thousands filled the streets of Nairobi and other towns. Another wave followed on Saba Saba Day, July 7, with demands for accountability and reform from President William Ruto’s administration.
The youth movement has drawn strong government responses. President Ruto accused unnamed individuals of using the protests to cause unrest and warned that attacks on public institutions would face harsh action. He stated the government would not allow the country to be “ruled by chaos.”
At the same time, leaders and religious figures continue to call for peace and dialogue between the government and the youth.
While the research start date is unclear, the government says the findings will help improve youth policies and could lead to more partnerships between Kenya and South Korea.
By Vivian K.